By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 1912          (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2017; March 23, 2017, read   first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;   April 24, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee   Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 24, 2017,   sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1912 By:  Uresti     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to certain notice requirements and filing requirements in   court proceedings involving persons with mental illness and   representation of proposed patients in proceedings for   court-ordered mental health services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 571.013, Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 571.013.  METHOD OF GIVING NOTICE. Except as otherwise   provided by this subtitle, notice required under this subtitle may   be given by:                (1)  personal delivery of [delivering] a copy of the   notice or document by a constable or sheriff of the county; [in   person] or                (2)  [in] another manner directed by the court that is   reasonably calculated to give actual notice.          SECTION 2.  Section 571.014(c), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  A person may [initially] file a paper with the county   clerk by the use of reproduced, photocopied, or electronically   transmitted paper copies of [if the person files] the original   signed copies of the paper. A person who files a reproduced,   photocopied, or electronically transmitted paper must maintain   possession of the original signed copies of the paper and shall make   the original paper available for inspection on request by the   parties or the court [with the clerk not later than the 72nd hour   after the hour on which the initial filing is made. If the 72-hour   period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the filing   period is extended until 4 p.m. on the first succeeding business   day. If extremely hazardous weather conditions exist or a disaster   occurs, the presiding judge or magistrate may by written order made   each day extend the filing period until 4 p.m. on the first   succeeding business day. The written order must declare that an   emergency exists because of the weather or the occurrence of a   disaster. If a person detained under this subtitle would otherwise   be released because the original signed copy of a paper is not filed   within the 72-hour period but for the extension of the filing period   under this section, the person may be detained until the expiration   of the extended filing period. This subsection does not affect   another provision of this subtitle requiring the release or   discharge of a person].          SECTION 3.  Chapter 571, Health and Safety Code, is amended   by adding Sections 571.0168 and 571.0169 to read as follows:          Sec. 571.0168.  MENTAL HEALTH PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE. A   court, with the permission of the commissioners court of the county   in which the court is located, may establish a mental health public   defender office to provide proposed patients with legal   representation provided by attorneys associated with that office.          Sec. 571.0169.  REPRESENTATION OF PROPOSED PATIENT. The   court shall appoint an attorney associated with a mental health   public defender office described by Section 571.0168, a public   defender other than a mental health public defender, or a private   attorney to represent a proposed patient in any proceeding under   Chapter 574.          SECTION 4.  Section 574.010(b), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  If the court determines that the proposed patient is   indigent, the court may authorize reimbursement to the attorney   representing the proposed patient [ad litem] for court-approved   expenses incurred in obtaining expert testimony and may order the   proposed patient's county of residence to pay the expenses.          SECTION 5.  Section 571.014(d), Health and Safety Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *